And I had to include this one of big brother getting ready to nurse--he is lifting up his shirt and about to plop his bear on.

Mild but real contractions started at 2am Wed morning and kept me awake, but stayed at 10 minutes apart for 13 hours and didn't prgoress in intensity. DH and I went on a walk to help things pick up, and it worked beautifully! We were at the hospital 3 hours later, and I was at a 4 (and a week past EDD), so I was admitted. I was a little worried they wouldn't admit me because all day long I felt like the contractions weren't doing anything. Or I was afraid they would admit me, but nothing would happen.

Turns out I had nothing to worry about--labor progressed very quickly once we got to the hospital. An hour after admission, I was at a 5 and my water spontaneously broke. I decided to get an epidural then, and an hour and a half after that I was at a 10 and ready to push. 20 minutes of intense pushing, and we discovered we are now parents of a boy and a GIRL! DH announced "Meet AUDREY! It's a girl!" and she was placed on my belly immediately. What a surprise to me--I had just decided it was another boy the last few weeks. But we are so thrilled. We named her Audrey Yvonne. The middle name is in honor of my mom. She was much bigger than we expected-- 8 lb 9 oz, 21 inches--and she is beautiful. She made me wait one extra week, but once she decided to come, she came quickly!

She had a knot in her cord from being so active in utero, but it wasn't tight enough to cut off any nutrients. The nurses said she was a lucky little girl. I passed out for the first time when they helped me to the bathroom after the delivery. That was a really strange experience! I think I was just so low on iron.

Things are going well now; we came home 24 hours after admission, my parents are here to help, and big brother is adjusting well--he is just so excited and curious about our baby Audrey. Hopefully this will continue.

Audrey is nursing well, but it hurts much more than I remember with DS. I'm going to the lactation consultant Monday and we will make sure she is latching on correctly. But I hurt a lot less down there (despite tearing again), so I won't complain too much.

We used up the Pampers from the hospital while the meconium was coming out and Audrey was in her first cloth starting today! So cute; I love it!

By the way, I leave for a few days, and DS totally transforms. How do I change the color template? TIA!

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your story. Blessings to your new little one! Let's see some pics of her sweet tiny little body in cloth! Sorry about the nursing pain. I feel the same way each time. Each time I think...did it hurt this much last time?? Use that lansinoh cream after every nursing. Hope you have a wonderful babymoon!